LFCHD Employee Newsletter

Archive for the month “December, 2016”

The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has a familiar face with a new, hard-earned title. Sandy Breeding, the Public Health Clinic team leader, graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a Doctor in Nursing Practice (DNP) degree on Dec. 17. The focus of the degree is leadership in the nursing profession through implementation of evidence-based practice that is research based.

Breeding’s dissertation, “Evaluating Public Health Nurses’ and Clinicians’ Self-Competency Level in the Treatment of Tuberculosis,” will soon be published online in the ProQuest Dissertation Database.

In addition to her dissertation project, Breeding completed 60 hours of classroom time and earned a 4.0 GPA. Her hard work didn’t go unrecognized: NKU Doctor of Nursing practice program faculty selected her as the Fall 2016 recipient of the DNP Practice Excellence Award. This award is given with four criteria: clinical competency and initiative of high degree; demonstrated accountability and responsibility for role transition as a DNP-prepared professional; initiative of a change in practice that enhances the practice of nursing; and excellent rapport with patients, staff, colleagues, organizations and local/state/regional entities.

Please join us as we celebrate this hard work and fantastic honor as we welcome the newly titled Dr. Sandy Breeding!

The Safety Committee has compiled a list below to prevent vehicle break-ins. Your Sonitrol badge should also be stored safely and not in your vehicle.

Top 5 Tips to Prevent Vehicle Break-Ins
1. Lock your doors
• 25 percent of car thefts are from unlocked vehicles.
2. Keep it clean
• Empty shopping bags can be seen as valuable. Don’t keep extra bags or other objects in sight.
3. Conceal all evidence
• Hide all evidence of electronics, even car chargers for cell phones.
4. Stash before you leave, not after you park
• Car thieves will watch people put their valuables in the trunk. Put them in the trunk before you leave for your destination.
5. Park for visibility
• Aim for a high visibility area around lights and other vehicles. Avoid concealment from oversized vehicles, fences or trees.

Our preparedness team offers the following tips for safety during the holiday season:

Christmas Tree Safety

Christmas trees account for hundreds of fires each year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). Keep your holiday trees well-watered. Dry and neglected trees can easily catch fire from a short in electrical lights or lit candles, lighters and matches.

Before your tree burns your house down, be fire smart with these USFA tips:

· Place the tree away from heat sources and exits.

· Use only non-flammable decorations.

· Inspect lights for frayed wires or other defects before use.

· Don’t leave lights unattended and turn off holiday lights at night. Keep natural tree stands filled with water at all times and don’t let your holiday tree dry out.

Help your community prepare for the holidays with the Ready.gov Holiday and Travel Safety Social Media Toolkit. Find holiday safety and preparedness information and graphics you can either copy and paste directly, or customize them to reach your audience.

CO is called the “Invisible Killer” because it’s a colorless, odorless, and poisonous gas. According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), more than 150 people in the United States die every year from accidental nonfire-related CO poisoning associated with consumer products, including generators. Other products include faulty, improperly-used or incorrectly-vented fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, stoves, water heaters, and fireplaces.

Protect your family from CO poisoning with these USFA tips:

· Install and maintain CO alarms in a central location outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of your home to provide early warning of CO.

· Use portable generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas away from all doors, windows, and vents.

· Make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow and other debris.